After a saddening loss last week to the Centennial Bulldogs, 34-7, the season is officially over for Desert Oasis. After making history for the school’s program by making it to the semifinals/regional championship while also going 8-4 overall. Making this year tied with the team of 2010.
Unfortunately with the tragic loss, many seniors have left the sport they love empty handed. No offers, opportunities, or college coach interests, which makes this loss a lot worse because this could be the last time they ever touch a football field again. It’s everyone’s dream to go pro, but sometimes you just come up short.
When interviewing 2 seniors (including myself) and 1 junior, they all had plenty to say about the unfortunate loss. When asking defensive player, Ethan Estrada, about how he feels about the ending of the season he said, “It’s honestly a saddening feeling knowing that we won’t be able to play this game with the seniors we all got close to. As sad as it is, I can’t help but feel happy that it happened. I’m genuinely just sorry for the seniors that we couldn’t get them that ring like we promised.”
When talking to offensive lineman, Luis Uribe, about what the plans for him were now that football was over he said, “Honestly, I’m not sure what’s next for me. On one hand I want to go to college and play ball there. However, I have no offers nor opportunities. On the other hand, I want to go work full time and focus on making money and saving up for a place when I graduate. Both aren’t easy, however both are extremely helpful towards my future.”
Finally, I can’t help but include myself in this because this was a very heartbreaking experience for myself. I, Eliseo Villa, have played this sport all my life.
From 8 years old, I’ve loved nothing more than to be on the field in pads running head first into other people. It just brought a different kind of life to me.
Knowing the sport is dangerous but at the same time not caring because everyone else around me did the same. From the adrenaline rush when taking the field down to the feeling of going home after a great athletic performance. It all just became a part of my life. Now that it’s over, it just feels like a part of my soul is missing. Whenever I’m asked how I felt after the final buzzer knowing my season was over, I can’t help but give the wordy response of, “From the start of the 4th quarter I could see that most of the team had given up. As sad as it was, we all still tried our best to have fun and joke around like it was just another game. It was a special moment to have all of our teammates laugh together on the sideline even though we were losing by a significant amount. However, when that buzzer sounded, I couldn’t help but drop to my knees shedding more tears than I believe I ever have. Something about that potentially being the very last game I ever play just hurt on a level I’ve never experienced before. Every night since then I’ve thought of nothing besides the game. I simply just wish I could’ve had five more minutes to enjoy the little bit I had left.”
With that, the 2024 football season comes to an end. Just coming up short after making it so far was such a heartbreaker. However, the team will come ready with the class of 2026 coming hot for that state ring.
